Within the 78 percent of homeowners with assessed values less than $100,000 are many who have been protected from taxes by the 3 percent cap as part of the homestead exemption.

It’s entirely possible that homes with identical market values can have one paying 10 times the taxes of the other, depending on how long they have lived in their house. Unfair, since the police, fire, schools and roads are used equally by all.

Ted Williams, Melbourne

Food allergies no laughing matter

In his Feb. 18 column, Bill Mick lamented that our "overly sensitive society" couldn't find humor in a scene from the children's movie "Peter Rabbit." In this scene a character is pelted with a food allergen until he has to inject himself with an EpiPen to alleviate the effects of the allergen. Mr. Mick expresses concern that advocacy groups like Kids With Food Allergies do nothing positive for their constituents.

However, these groups are bringing attention to the danger of joking about attacking a person with a life-threatening allergen. It not only isn't funny, but could cause a child's death. I understand that Bill Mick and many of us who grew up when food allergies may have only caused a rash or a tummy ache are unaware that today's food allergies are different and potentially lethal. But minimizing this serious issue in the newspaper or in a movie for children is uninformed and unacceptable.

Mr. Mick, I hope that you never have to watch your child or grandchild writhe in agony in an emergency room fighting for his life after accidental exposure to a food allergen. Having done so on several occasions, I respectfully request that you have the courage to publicly modify your statements regarding teaching children, whose peers may carry lifesaving EpiPens, that it is funny to attack them in what may result in suffering or loss of life.

Susan Trefry, Melbourne Beach

Déjà vu all over again

Two true stories:

No. 1: When the U.S. Legislature was working on passing a law forcing car manufacturers to install seatbelts, the automobile giant CEOs fought back hard: too expensive, people wouldn’t use them, not necessary, curtailing our freedoms. Then when the legislation was passed and the number of deaths from car accidents started going down dramatically, the car CEOs took credit for the idea. So an answer to the assault weapons market would be to somehow persuade the NRA to take credit for a law preventing their sale.

No. 2: As for arming teachers, it was already considered some years ago — by Archie Bunker doing a local TV interview on "All in the Family," stating, “I know the way to keep terrorists from harming people on planes — just arm all the passengers with guns. Case closed.”

No. 2: As for arming teachers, it was already considered some years ago — by Archie Bunker doing a local TV interview on “All in the Family” and stating, “I know the way to keep terrorists from harming people on planes. Just arm all the passengers with guns. Case closed.”

It got a big, shocked laugh.

Barb Bayley, Melbourne

No need for armed civilian militia

The Second Amendment was written in the 1700s to assemble a civilian militia when needed. We are now in the year 2018. We have an armed forces, a national guard and police forces in every community. We no longer need an armed civilian militia. If people are so worried about our Second Amendment rights, sell them muskets. Machine guns are not needed in our country.

Jacqueline Dunkel, Melbourne

Preventing school shootings

The Israelis have not had a school shooting incident in some 40 years. To achieve this remarkable record of school safety they have developed and deployed the following principal strategies and tactics:

Controlled and restricted school access monitored by on-site security armed personnel and cameras.

Other on-site armed security personnel and volunteer teachers who are armed with concealed weapons after careful selection and rigorous training.

Frequent, unannounced “active shooter on-site” drills for students and teachers including instruction in classroom barricade and how to effectively attack a shooter with whatever makeshift weapons are available.

Non-use of school buses to avoid vulnerable concentrations of students on the buses.

Aside from other significant considerations (e.g. more rigorous behavioral profiling to identify potential shooters or more restrictive gun control), we should adopt the Israelis’ proven methodology on a national basis as soon as possible. Unfortunately the current threat level within our society demands no less.

William S. Warden, Indialantic

Overlooked in gun debate ...

One aspect of the gun control debate has been overlooked following the Parkland mass shooting. It would tilt the language and reaction to such tragedies toward the victims and families and make the NRA look like a puke stain on history.

In 2005, Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which grants almost blanket immunity to gun manufacturers from lawsuits resulting from gun violence. It was signed into law by President George W. Bush in the guise of too many frivolous lawsuits. There are narrow exceptions built into the law but they are insignificant.

In my view, revoking the PLCAA, along with making it retroactive to cover recent mass shootings, would give grieving families some satisfaction in their quest for justice.In effect, by cutting off the arms of the NRA, no pun intended, it would end inane use of "thoughts and prayers" and give those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, like soldiers, a final "rest in peace."